Exit International

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Exit International
Founded 1997
Founder(s) Philip Nitschke
Headquarters
Origins Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation (VERF Inc.)
Key people Philip Nitschke, Fiona Stewart
Area served International
Product(s) Euthanasia-related
Focus(es) Euthanasia
Employees 5
Members 3,500
Motto A Peaceful Death is Everybody's Right
Website exitinternational.net

Exit International, is an international non-profit organization advocating legalization of euthanasia.[1] It was previously known as the Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation (VERF Inc.). Other assisted dying organisations are Dignitas and Final EXIT.[2]

Exit International was founded by Dr Philip Nitschke in 1997 after the over-turning of the world's first Voluntary Euthanasia law—the Rights of the Terminally Ill (ROTI) Act. During the ROTI Act, Dr Nitschke became the first physician in the world to administer a legal, lethal, voluntary injection.[3]

Exit International is a non-profit organisation. The organisation had 3,500-members in 2011.[4] Their average age is 75.[5]

Activities

A billboard with Exit International statement in Australia

In 2011, Exit International unveiled the first pro-euthanasia billboard in Australia on the Hume Highway near Sydney. The plan had previously met with opposition when the Australian Advertising Standards Bureau wrote to Exit International, informing them that the advertisement may be illegal as it would contravene state laws on aiding or abetting suicide.[6] Exit International successfully countered by arguing that the language used on the billboard did not argue for euthanasia, but instead referred only to the public support for the act.[7]

Prior to the billboard, Exit International had developed a pro-voluntary euthanasia television advertisement that was due to screen in 2010. The advertisement was prompted by a The Gruen Transfer segment, where two advertising agencies had been requested to create a pro-euthanasia advertisement to "market the unmarketable". Although the winning entry was not able to be used by Exit International, they employed the successful advertising agency. The resulting advertisement was to screen on 12 September, but was unable to be shown after approval for the advertisement was withdrawn two days prior to screening, legal concerns in regard to the promotion of euthanasia and suicide being cited as the cause.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Australia to outlaw suicide Web sites". news.zdnet.com. Retrieved 2009-01-06. 
  2. ↑ "ERGO". www.finalexit.org. Retrieved 2009-05-15. 
  3. ↑ "Exit International". www.exitinternational.net. Retrieved 2009-01-07. 
  4. ↑ Kennedy, Dominic. "Suicide expert Philip Nitschke launches UK tour - Times Online". TimesOnline (London: News Intl). ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 
  5. ↑ Dutter, Barbie (21 April 2011). "Pensioners defy death drug laws - Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph (London: TMG). ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 24 July 2011. 
  6. ↑ Rose, Danny. "Another blow for euthanasia campaign". Shepparton News. Retrieved 11 August 2011. 
  7. ↑ "Euthanasia billboard approved". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2011. 
  8. ↑ Kruger, Paula (10 September 2010). "Pro-euthanasia TV ad banned". PM. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 August 2011. 

External links

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